"The Nonstop Garden" is the perfect name for a book by author Stephanie Cohen,
a nonstop advocate of perennials for years, who has recently adjusted
her ebullience to include any and all plants. A born teacher, she's put
her considerable knowledge to work in this book for gardeners of many
levels in many situations.

Co-author Jennifer Benner also has an impressive résumé that encompasses garden design and working as associate editor of Fine Gardening.
The book's elegant photographs -- the majority by Benner -- demonstrate
her skills in that arena, too. They also cause the reader to lust for
the plants, both usual and not-so-usual.

Topics run the gamut
from trees to annuals and include design tips, container ideas and how
to take care of all the great plants featured. Very useful are the 10
garden plans, mapped out with plants and color-washed illustrations. The
designs cover a wide spectrum of needs from a woodland situation to a
baking-hot parking strip. Whether Cohen came up with them or not, names
such as "Scented Segue," "Inferno Strip" and "Cool as a Cucumber"
certainly are typical of her alliterative style.

While not as
good as talking to Cohen in person, "The Nonstop Garden" expresses her
irrepressible enthusiasm and depth of knowledge.